Correspondence From State and Federal Courts

Tennessee Code AnnotatedTennessee Attorney General Opinions

Reference Number: CTAS-1409

Reference Number:

CTAS-1409

Correspondence from a state or federal court constitutes “legal mail” and cannot be opened outside the presence of a prisoner who has specifically requested otherwise. Sallier, 343 F.3d at 876-877. See also Taylor v. Sterrett, 532 F.2d 462, 475 (5th Cir.1976) (holding that an inmate's right of access to the courts requires that incoming prisoner mail from courts, attorneys, prosecuting attorneys, and probation or parole officers be opened only in the presence of the inmate)